Summar y: APGP

1 2009 Mr Teo | www.teachmejcmath-sg.webs.com

Arithmetic Progression (AP):
1) Important formulas:
d n a T
n
) 1 ( + =
| | d n a
n
S
n
) 1 ( 2
2
+ =
where a denotes the first term of the AP, d is the common difference and n is the number of terms in
the AP.
Note 1:
The formula for S
n
represents the sum of the first n terms, hence if questions require students to find the sum
of the next n terms, the expression will be valid if and only if the corresponding a and d of the series are
found.
Usually, one can find the sum of the next n terms of an AP by subtractingthe sum of the first 2n terms with
the sum of the first n terms.
i.e. Sum of next n terms = | | | | d n a
n
d n a
n
S S
n n
) 1 ( 2
2
) 1 2 ( 2
2
2
2
+ + =
Note 2:
When one consider either the sum of the even or odd terms of an AP, theseseries are still AP with changes
made to a, d and n. The formulas for T
n
and S
n
thus apply.
2) Proving AP
To prove if the series is an AP, students must prove the following expression:
i.e. T
n
- T
n-1
= constant.
Here, the constant is independent of n. Thisconstant is also the common differenceof the AP, i.e. d.
Summar y: APGP
2 2009 Mr Teo | www.teachmejcmath-sg.webs.com
Note:
Either T
n
or S
n
will be providedin the question.
If T
n
is given, for example, 2 + = n T
n
, T
n-1
can be obtained by replacing all the n on the RHS with (n-1)
i.e. 1 2 ) 1 (
1
+ = + =

n n T
n
If S
n
is given, student must first obtain T
n
using: T
n
= S
n
- S
n-1
.
Then proceed to find T
n
- T
n-1
to prove that it is a constant.
Geometric Progression (GP):
1) Important formulas:
1
=
n
n
ar T
r
r a
S
n
n

=
1
) 1 (
where a denotes the first term of the GP, r is the common ratio and n is the number of terms in the GP.
Note 1:
The formula for S
n
represents the sum of the first n terms. If questions require students to find the sum of the
next n terms, one must subtract the sum of the first 2n terms with the sum of the first n terms of the GP.
i.e. Sum of next n terms of the GP =
r
r a
r
r a
S S
n n
n n

=
1
) 1 (
1
) 1 (
2
2
Note 2:
When one consider either the sum of the even or odd terms of a GP, theseseries are still GP with changes
made to a, r and n. The formulas for T
n
and S
n
thus apply.
Summar y: APGP
3 2009 Mr Teo | www.teachmejcmath-sg.webs.com
2) Proving GP
Toprove if the series is aGP, students must prove the following expression:
i.e. T
n
/ T
n-1
= constant.
Here, the constant is independent of n. Thisconstant is also the common ratioof the AP, i.e. r.
Note:
Either T
n
or S
n
will be providedin the question.
If T
n
is given, for example, n n T
n
2
2
+ = , T
n-1
can be obtained by replacing all the n on the RHS with (n-1)
i.e. ) 1 ( 2 ) 1 (
2
1
+ =

n n T
n
If S
n
is given, student must first obtain T
n
using: T
n
= S
n
- S
n-1
.
Then proceed to find T
n
/ T
n-1
toprove that it is a constant.
3) Sum to infinity
When -1<r <1i.e. 1 | | < r , the GP convergesto a finite value, hence sum to infinity exists.
The formulafor the sum to infinity of a GP is:
r
a
S

1
Note:
A series either converges or diverges. To determine if the series converge/diverge, students can consider sum
to the 1
st
n terms (or T
n
term) of the series, and apply limits such that n tends to infinity. If the expression
tends to a finite value, the series is converging, otherwise, the series is diverging i.e. tends to infinity.
Summar y: APGP
4 2009 Mr Teo | www.teachmejcmath-sg.webs.com
Other Observations:
Compound interest problems are popular at GCE A levels.
For example:
If principle amount is $1000 and there are two banks, BANK A is offering a fixed interest of $100 per annum
and BANK B is offering an interest of 1.2% per annum. The total amount after n years can be obtained as
follows, assuming only one deposit is made initially:
Type of series Amount after n years (i.e. T
n
term)
Bank A
a =$1000
interest =$100
AP T
1
=1000 +(1)100=1100
T
2
=1000 +100 +100 =1000 +(2)100=1200
T
3
=1000 +100 +100 +100 =1000 +(3)100=1300
. From observation or applying AP formula:
T
n
=1000 +.. =1000 +(n)100=1000 +100n
Bank B
a =$1000
interest =1.2%
GP T
1
=1000 +(0.012)1000
=1000 [1 +0.012] Note: there are two terms
T
2
=1000 +0.012[1000 +(0.012)1000]
=1000 +0.012(1000) +(0.012)
2
1000
=1000 [1 +0.012 +0.012
2
] Note: there are three terms
T
3
=1000 +0.012(1000 +0.012[1000 +(0.012)1000])
=1000 +0.012(1000) +(0.012)
2
1000 +(0.012)
3
1000
=1000 [1 +0.012 +0.012
2
+0.012
3
] Note: there are four terms
From observation, the terms inside the square bracket is a GP with
a =1 and r =0.012. Hence,
T
n
=1000
(

+
012 . 0 1
012 . 0 1
) 1 (n
Note: there are (n+1) terms